Cigarette-case



B. F. HUNZIKEH.

CIGARETTE CASE.

APPLICATION man MAH. 8. 1920.

1,354,042.' Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

MQMT UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. HUNZIKER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR T0 JULIUS F. HUNZIKER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CIGARETTE-CASE.

Application filed March 8,

To all of whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. HUN- ZIKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Cases; and I 4do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for itsobject to provide an extremely simple and highly efficient cigarette case adapted to hold and protect a package of cigarettes and to permit the ready discharge therefrom of the cigarettes, one at a time.

The complete case is made from a single piece of thin sheet metal bent to form an inclosing box-like structure adapted to be opened up by a hinge-like action to permit' the cigarette packages to be inserted therein or removed therefrom.

The improved case is indicated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the sev` eral views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the case opened up,

Fig. 2-is a perspective view showing the case closed and a. package of cigarettes therein contained Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the case on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a plan View showing the stamped blank of sheet metal before it has been bent to form the case.

Referring first to Fig. 4, the numeral 5 indicates the body of the sheet metal blank, the same being formed with projecting Wings 6 and 7 at itsopposite edges and with extensions 8 and 9 at its opposite ends. This blank is adapted to be folded on the dotted lines a, b, c, and d, to throw, respectively, the end portions 8 and 9 and wings 6 and 7 at approximate] right angles to the fiat surfaces of the s eet 5. Also, the blank 5 will be slightly bent on lines indicated by the dotted lines f, so as to bend the portion between the said lines f into something less than a semi-circle, so that the spring wall or portion between the lines f--f will tend to hold the sides of the case separated or open. as shown in Fig. 1. By

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 28, 1920.

1920. ASerial No. 364,057.

. spring portion between the lines f-f forms the other edgeof the case, the latter being a curved formation. It will also be noted that the edges of the flanges 7 and 9 are slightly inwardly offset at 7n and 9, so that the fianges 6 and 8, respectively, will overlap therewithand stop against the shoulders thus formed when the case is closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

The edge flange 8 is formed with a notch 10, and the offset portion 9a of the edge flange 9 has an outwardly pressed boss l1 that is beveled on its upper side and terminates in a sharp shoulder. Then the case is closed, the boss or lug ll will cam itself into interlocking engagement with the notch 10,.and to release the same from the said notch when it is desired to open the case, the flange 9 -must be sprung inward by pressure from the fingers.

It will be further noted that all but one of the end forming flanges 6 and 7, at their inner ends, are rounded, so that, in a closed case, they project nearly to the rounded edge of the case and prevent cigarettes from escaping from a closed case; but the inner end of one of the flanges 7 is cut out or notched at 7b, so that it leaves a passage amply large for cigarettes to be dropped or pulled from the case.

In Fig. 2, the numeral 12 indicates a paper package containing cigarettes 13. Before the package of cigarettes is placed in the case, part or all of one end of the -paper package 12 is torn off, so that the cigarettes may be discharged. one at a time, from the case.

As is evident, this case will not only hold a package of cigarettes and protect the same from breakage or crushing. but permits the cigarettes to be taken from the case quickly when t desired. Obviously` the case is adapted to be carried in the pocket and is but slightly larger than a paper package containing the cigarettes. The facility and ease with which the package of cigarettes can be placed in the case is also evident.

What I claim is:

A cigarette case formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent on a curve at itl llO intermediate portion to form a bowed spring acting edge wall, tending to open the case, and with the two sides forming portionsof the sheet at their edges and ends having cooperating lapping flanges, said edge forming flanges having yieldingly engaging interlocking elements, and one of said end forming flanges adjacent to the bowed edge of the case, having a passage that is always open when the case is closed, to permit the endwise discharge of cigarettes, one at a time, all of the other edge foi-.ming flanges having curved ends located immediately adjacent to said bowed edge of the case, substantially as described.

In testimon whereof I affix my signature in presence oi two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. HUNZIKER.

Witnesses:

J. F. HUNZIKER, HARRY D. KILGORE. 

